The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), for instance, was highlighted as relying upon thistles such as Tall thistle (Cirsium altissimum) as nectar sources during its migration. (wikipedia.org)
Vulgare5
Extensions from the leaf base down the stem, called wings, can be lacking (Cirsium arvense), conspicuous (Cirsium vulgare), or inconspicuous. (wikipedia.org)
Cirsium vulgare (bull thistle, common thistle, or spear thistle) is listed as a noxious weed in nine US states. (wikipedia.org)
Cirsium vulgare, for instance, ranked in the top 10 for nectar production in a UK plants survey conducted by the AgriLand project which is supported by the UK Insect Pollinators Initiative. (wikipedia.org)
Cirsium vulgare was also a top producer of nectar sugar in another study in Britain, ranked third with a production per floral unit of (2323 ± 418μg). (wikipedia.org)
Certain species of Cirsium, like Cirsium monspessulanum, Cirsium pyrenaicum and Cirsium vulgare, have been traditionally used as food in rural areas of southern Europe. (wikipedia.org)
Carduus1
These differ from other thistle genera (Carduus, Silybum and Onopordum) in having feathered hairs to their achenes. (wikipedia.org)
Hemlock1
Large patches of purple-flowered Canada thistle ( Cirsium arvense ) grow at the edge of the marsh, interspersed with tall stalks of poison-hemlock ( Conium maculatum ) covered with small white flowers. (boisefrontnature.com)
Species4
Cirsium thistles are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species-see list of Lepidoptera that feed on Cirsium. (wikipedia.org)
Some prairie and wildflower seed production companies supply bulk seed for native North American thistle species, for wildlife habitat restoration, although availability tends to be low. (wikipedia.org)
Among the worst invasive species that are present at Hidden Springs wetlands are purple loosestrife ( Lythrum salicaria ), mis-named Canada thistle ( Cirsium arvense ), and reed canarygrass ( Phalaris arundinacea ). (boisefrontnature.com)
Flower1
Thistles are known for their effusive flower heads, usually purple, rose or pink, also yellow or white. (wikipedia.org)
Extensions from the leaf base down the stem, called wings, can be lacking (Cirsium arvense), conspicuous (Cirsium vulgare), or inconspicuous. (wikipedia.org)
They can spread by seed, and also by rhizomes below the surface (Cirsium arvense). (wikipedia.org)